Blew $1,800 on a cheap hydraulic torque wrench kit that failed on the first job
So about six weeks ago I was rigging up for a valve job on a platform out of Port Fourchon and figured I'd save some cash by grabbing a budget torque wrench kit off a marketplace listing. Price was $1,800 vs the $4,200 the shop normally pays for the good stuff, and the seller swore it was barely used on two jobs. First flange we hit, the thing wouldn't hold pressure and the calibration was so far off we had to shut down and re-torque everything by hand, which put us 5 hours behind. Ended up renting a proper wrench for $300 a day and the boss chewed me out in front of the whole crew. Has anyone else gotten burned on secondhand torque gear, and is there any brand you'd trust used or should I just never do that again?
My claim to fame is buying a "barely used" torque wrench that turned out to be a very expensive paperweight with a hydraulic leak. Used gear from a marketplace listing is a gamble because you can't verify calibration history, and torque tools are exactly the kind of thing where a small hidden problem costs you a whole shift. Stick with renting from a shop that certifies their gear, or buy new from a brand with a real warranty system.